Secondary arc chute and electrical switching apparatus incorporating same

Abstract

A secondary arc chute is for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, a pair of separable contacts enclosed within the housing, and a primary arc chute disposed proximate the separable contacts in order to attract an arc generated by the separable contacts. The primary arc chute has a first end including an arc horn, and a second end. The secondary arc chute includes a chute member made from a magnetic material, such as nickel-plated steel, and including a first portion disposed at or about the arc horn of the primary arc chute, and a second portion. The chute member provides an extension of the primary arc chute in order to facilitate drawing the arc away from the separable contacts and to ground the arc into the housing of the electrical switching apparatus.

1. A secondary arc chute for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, a pair of separable contacts enclosed within said housing, and a primary arc chute disposed proximate said separable contacts in order to attract an arc generated by said separable contacts, said primary arc chute having a first end including an arc horn, and a second end, said arc horn having a plane, said secondary arc chute comprising:
 a chute member including a first portion structured to be disposed at or about said arc horn of said primary arc chute, and a second portion, wherein said chute member is structured to provide an extension of said primary arc chute in order to facilitate drawing said arc away from said separable contacts, 
 wherein said first portion of said chute member of said secondary arc chute is structured to align with said plane of said arc horn of said primary arc chute. 
 
   
   
     2. The secondary arc chute of  claim 1  wherein the first portion of said chute member comprises a hook structured to attract said arc; wherein said hook includes a tip; and wherein said tip is structured to be disposed proximate said arc horn at or about the first end of said primary arc chute. 
   
   
     3. The secondary arc chute of  claim 2  wherein said tip of said hook comprises a first arc runner extension; wherein the second portion of said chute member includes a second arc runner extension; and wherein said first and second arc runner extensions are structured to attract said arc from said arc horn. 
   
   
     4. A secondary arc chute for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, a pair of separable contacts enclosed within said housing, and a primary arc chute disposed proximate said separable contacts in order to attract an arc generated by said separable contacts, said primary arc chute having a first end including an arc horn, and a second end, said secondary arc chute comprising:
 a chute member including a first portion structured to be disposed at or about said arc horn of said primary arc chute, and a second portion, wherein said chute member is structured to provide an extension of said primary arc chute in order to facilitate drawing said arc away from said separable contacts, 
 wherein the second portion of said chute member includes a pair of opposing tab extensions which extend generally vertically from said second portion; and wherein said pair of opposing tab extensions are structured to be disposed proximate said arc horn of said primary arc chute in order to further attract and dissipate said arc. 
 
   
   
     5. The secondary arc chute of  claim 1  wherein said chute member is structured to cool and dissipate said arc, and to ground said arc into said housing of said electrical switching apparatus. 
   
   
     6. The secondary arc chute of  claim 1  wherein said chute member comprises a single-piece chute member. 
   
   
     7. The secondary arc chute of  claim 6  wherein said single-piece chute member is made from a metallic material including a number of bends. 
   
   
     8. The secondary arc chute of  claim 1  wherein said chute member is made from a magnetic material. 
   
   
     9. The secondary arc chute of  claim 8  wherein said magnetic material comprises nickel-plated steel. 
   
   
     10. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 separable contacts enclosed within said housing; 
 an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts; 
 a primary arc chute disposed proximate said separable contacts in order to attract an arc generated by said separable contacts, said primary arc chute including an end having an arc horn, said arc horn having a plane; and 
 a secondary arc chute comprising:
 a chute member including a first portion disposed at or about the end of said primary arc chute, and a second portion, the first portion of said chute member being structured to draw said arc out of said primary arc chute and away from said separable contacts, the second portion of said chute member being structured to ground said arc into said housing of said electrical switching apparatus, 
 wherein said first portion of said chute member of said secondary arc chute is aligned with said plane of said arc horn of said primary arc chute. 
 
 
   
   
     11. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the first portion of said chute member includes a hook disposed proximate said arc horn at or about the end of said primary arc chute. 
   
   
     12. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said hook includes a tip comprising a first arc runner extension; wherein the second portion of said chute member includes a second arc runner extension; and wherein said first and second arc runner extensions are structured to further attract said arc away from said primary chute. 
   
   
     13. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said second arc runner extension comprises an integral tab protrusion extending from the second portion of said chute member. 
   
   
     14. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
 a housing; 
 separable contacts enclosed within said housing; 
 an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts; 
 a primary arc chute disposed proximate said separable contacts in order to attract an arc generated by said separable contacts, said primary arc chute including an end; and 
 a secondary arc chute comprising:
 a chute member including a first portion disposed at or about the end of said primary arc chute, and a second portion, the first portion of said chute member being structured to draw said arc out of said primary arc chute and away from said separable contacts, the second portion of said chute member being structured to ground said arc into said housing of said electrical switching apparatus, 
 
 wherein the second portion of said chute member includes a pair of opposing tab extensions which extend generally vertically from the second portion; and wherein said pair of opposing tab extensions are structured to be disposed proximate said arc horn of said primary arc chute in order to further attract and dissipate said arc. 
 
   
   
     15. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said secondary arc chute coupled to at least one of said housing of said electrical switching apparatus and said primary arc chute. 
   
   
     16. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the second portion of said chute member includes an opening; and wherein said secondary arc chute further includes at least one fastener inserted through said opening in order to secure said chute member to said housing. 
   
   
     17. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said secondary arc chute has a surface area; wherein said chute member includes a number of surface area enlarging mechanisms selected from the group consisting of apertures, hooks, tab extensions, fins, and a combination of apertures, hooks, tab extensions and fins; and wherein said surface area enlarging mechanisms are structured to enlarge said surface area of said secondary arc chute in order to further dissipate and cool said arc. 
   
   
     18. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said chute member of said secondary arc chute comprises a single-piece chute member. 
   
   
     19. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said single-piece chute member is made from a magnetic material including a number of bends. 
   
   
     20. The electrical switching apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said magnetic material comprises nickel-plated steel.